2032. Andrew Jennings

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      Noah and Jack watched Ruby do her thing. It was that air of authority, the ability to grapple a room full of bureaucrats. How far they had come.

      After the room cleared, and Ruby had turned, waved and exited with her entourage. They made a space outside, just down the steps.

      Noah turned to Jack.

      "Military thinking. Lines on a map. Expecting them to go out into the desert and fight in the open."

      "Great speech but."

      "The best. You imagine the illustrious middle class are just going to surrender their expensive real estate without a fight?"

      "What are they going to do, whip their lattes into a froth and throw them at us?

      They both laughed.

      "What next?" Noah asked Jack. After the magnificence of the speech, the euphoria, it was back to the humdrum.

      "Review the north east surveillance schedule."

      "Exciting."

      "Necessary."

      Down two floors. Into a theatre adapted for the purpose. Noah sat, and took it in. The last ten hours, then in more detail the incidents of interest.

      Jack waved at one of the operators. He climbed the steps up to where they were sitting in the top row.

      Jack introduced Noah.

      "Noah."

      "I'm Alex."

      "The coverage in the mountains." Jack asked.

      "It's patchy. On the ridge tops it is brilliant. But it is not possible to get deep penetration into the valleys. The vegetation prevents the drones getting down. We don't have enough drones to fly missions into every deep gully."

      "So, in theory it is penetrable.“

      "You need to spend time there. It's impossible. The tracks, the roads are all along the ridges. Get stuck in the undergrowth and you will die in there."

      "Any signs of them?"

      "We pick up lots of exploratory flights."

      "How do you sight them?" Noah asked.

      Alex warmed to the task.

      "The satellite tags the drones as soon as they launch. We then project and follow using the ground stations."

      "So if they wanted to be not detected?"

      "Only really possible for the smaller drones. They can carry one on the back, launch it deep in a gully. We won't track it unless it gets within range of the ground posts. However I expect they have already have a map."

      "So they will proceed on foot."

      "Yes."

      It was interesting how things came down to the individual level, the low technology. No way to defeat technology with more tech. You had to think outside that space. Noah pictured them on the tracks east of Albury. Keeping under cover, walking their way across the Great Dividing Range. The balance was set by that which could be hidden, that which didn't rely on technology.

      Landlords

      Jacinta was from Ruby’s office. Only just met Noah and Jack, so proceeding cautiously. In a sense Noah and Jack were further up the power totem pole than Jacinta, but being from Ruby’s office she carried the mantel. Also Noah and Jack had a bit of a reputation, and they didn’t want to become known as the government’s bad boys.

      “Meeting with the landlords.” Jacinta said. She was about twenty five. Very neatly dressed. Suit. Power dressing type thing.

      “What, all of them?” Noah asked

      “Of course not. A hall full. They will be on edge. They supported the previous government very strongly. There are precious few young landlords.” She continued.

      “Some though.”

      “Three percent. City wide.”

      “We do the meet and greet. Do not fear your new rulers. All will be well. Don’t believe what you’ve heard about us. We really are not socialists.”

      She grinned. “That would would be good, but that’s not all of it. You remember the policy.”

      “Changing the balance.”

      He should have paid more attention. Jack interjected.

      “Stability. Once a renter has successfully completed a six month contract, only they have the option to terminate the contract. If the landlord wants to terminate, they have to find an equivalent rental for the tenant. European style.”

      Jacinta grinned more widely. Impressed.

      “Exactly. It’s an inversion. Along with the massive expansion in supply of rental properties. You remember the discussion on bringing rents down by at least 50%?”

      Noah leaned back in his chair.

      “They are going to be very unhappy. How do we calm them down?”

      “Welcome to the new world. Learn to love your new rulers or get a canoe and paddle in the direction of the United States.”

      They all laughed, and Noah and Jack were dismissed. Out on the street they were both quiet. Thinking it through as they headed in the direction of the meeting.

      “We could just detain the lot of them as enemies of the state. Seize the properties and rent them out ourselves.” Noah said. Jack frowned.

      “Yes, we could. Of course we could. A real incentive for new landlords to enter the system. Before you know it we are running every rental in the city. Nobody volunteers a property. We are running everything.”

      “Why not?”

      “Because we have better things to do with our time. You really want to go that way? One big housing office that runs everything?”

      As if to focus their attention, they passed a homeless camp just next to the station at the corner of Collins Street and Swanston. In the shadow of a wall there were about ten campers. A loose pile of clothing, bedding. One or two of them recognised them.

      “Way to go, Noah.” An old guy who had quite obviously been sleeping rough shouted out to him. Noah and Jack exchanged glances.

      “Where is it?” he asked

      “Northcote Town Hall.”

      “The 86?”

      “Yes.”

      “World’s slowest tram ride.”

      “The very same.”

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